Bridging space and society: The 11th Hubert Curien Award
Since its inception, the Hubert Curien Award honours groundbreaking achievements that transcend barriers, fostering innovative approaches to the interconnected human, cultural, and environmental systems that shape our world.
This award embodies the vision of Eurisy’s Founding President, Hubert Curien, who envisioned a future where scientists and experts from diverse sectors would unite to address society’s biggest challenges.
On October 16th at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milano, we held the ceremony of the 11th edition of the Hubert Curien Award.
Three finalists made it to the last round, and over the past months, we had the chance to meet them and learn more about their mission, activities and ambitions.
The nominees:
Space for Climate Observatory is an international initiative that uses satellite data to monitor and understand the impacts of climate change. It aims to provide high-quality, real-time data to track environmental changes helping policymakers and scientists address climate challenges more effectively.
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Cosmos for Humanity is an NGO established to promote the sustainable development of space activities, in order to preserve the orbital environment and guarantee sustainable access to space for future generations.An initiative backed by a passionate community of citizens and companies, known as the Cosmos Rangers, who are committed to the responsible use of space.
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SpaceBuzz is an educational initiative that simulates an astronaut experience for children, making them experience the “overview effect” using virtual reality and immersive storytelling to inspire interest in space and science while promoting awareness of Earth’s fragility.
The ceremony at the 75th International Astronautical Congress IAC2024
On October 16th, 2024, the Eurisy community and curious participants were warmly welcomed at the Italian Space Agency (ASI) booth at the congress venue to celebrate this year’s winner.
The ceremony was inaugurated by Eurisy President Dominique Tilmans, who emphasized the award’s rich history, value, and spirit, while introducing a new rebranded edition of the award, and its new, inclusive approach aimed at recognizing and celebrating a broader community, including younger generations and new groundbreaking initiatives.
Eurisy Secretary General, Annalisa Donati presented the nominees, with each representative taking the stage.
Frederic Bretar from the Space for Climate Observatory opened the session, presenting the association and highlighting their recent initiatives in climate monitoring and their role in coordinating international efforts, supporting decision-makers, and promoting public awareness of climate issues. Claire Elss from Cosmos for Humanity then took the stage, inspiring reflection on the environmental and societal impacts of space activities, while emphasizing the crucial need to promote sustainable use of space.
Although no representative from Space Buzz could be present, Jasper Wamsteker from the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) join the ceremony and introduced the activities of Space Buzz on their behalf, emphasizing their educational outreach programs and highlighting the strong collaborative spirit that unites SpaceBuzz and the NSO.
The ceremony was honoured by the presence of the former Hubert Curien Award laureate, Amalia Ercoli Finzi, who highlighted the importance of continuing to foster dialogue and communication between scientists and society, congratulating all the nominees for their innovative contributions and dedication.
The moment of the official awarding arrived, and the Space for Climate Observatory was officially announced as winner of the 11th Hubert Curien Award.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to this year’s jury and to all the nominees for sharing your motivation and spirit with us. Your participation made this celebration truly special, and we can’t wait to see all your future successes!
From left to right: Jasper Wamsteker (NSO), Claire Elss (Cosmos for Humanity), Dominique Tilmans (Eurisy), Amalia Ercoli Finzi (winner of the Hubert Curien 2022 prize), 4 representatives of the SCO Frédéric Bretar, Laurence Monnoyer-Smith, Alexia Freigneaux (CNES) and Giovanni Rum (ASI), Annalisa Donati (Eurisy).